Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25
अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance
प्रविश्य दूरतो देवं प्रणम्य भुवि दंडवत् । समीपे तदनुज्ञाताः परिवृत्योपतस्थिरे
praviśya dūrato devaṃ praṇamya bhuvi daṃḍavat | samīpe tadanujñātāḥ parivṛtyopatasthire
Ao entrar, de longe prostraram-se diante do Senhor, estendidos por completo na terra em dandavat. Depois, tendo recebido Sua permissão, aproximaram-se, puseram-se ao redor d’Ele e O serviram com reverência.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Models the proper darśana-krama: distant salutation, daṇḍavat-praṇāma, then approach only by the Lord’s anujñā—seen as a template for temple etiquette.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of surrender: the devotee approaches Pati (Shiva) with humility—first offering complete prostration, then serving only after receiving divine grace and permission.
It reflects proper āgamic etiquette in Saguna worship: maintain reverent distance, offer daṇḍavat praṇāma, and then come closer for upacāra (service) only in a sanctified, permitted manner—applicable to Linga-darśana and temple approach.
Practice daṇḍavat praṇāma before Shiva (or the Linga) and then remain in attentive upāsanā/sevā—approaching with inward restraint, as if seeking the Lord’s anujñā (gracious consent) before engaging in worship.